What It's Like Being a Vampire

Xiang Kun saw that Mr. Liang’s already round, eyelid-less eyes seemed to become even rounder, and he chuckled: “Just kidding.”

In fact, Xiang Kun had countless ways to control Mr. Liang. He didn’t even need to show himself or appear in person.

With Alice present, he could not only paralyze Mr. Liang’s micro-electronic structured “Biological Components” at any time, blocking his modules used to contact other “Divine Technology” devices and “Tyre”, but also to a certain extent, directly deprive these components, modules, and devices of their control rights and turn them against Mr. Liang.

By using remote emotional projection, he could also catch Mr. Liang off guard and temporarily lower his vigilance. Assisting with other methods, he could easily control him as well.

If he were to use aggressive methods, Xiang Kun could even direct lightning straight at Mr. Liang. No matter how much lightning protection equipment Mr. Liang’s “Biological Components” have, they would not withstand the continuous strikes of a lightning storm. Furthermore, his lightning protection methods would be rendered useless under the dismantling of Super Sensory Information by Xiang Kun and Alice.

Mr. Liang’s type of “Biological Components”, which tends towards metallic characteristics and relies on modules with microelectronic parts, is inherently disadvantaged in tackling such attacks.

Of course, without Xiang Kun’s guidance, Mr. Liang wouldn’t have been able to find him or track him here in the first place.

The investigation conducted by “Divine Technology” and Mr. Liang, their paths in search of clues, and their reactions and subsequent actions to various pieces of information are generally within Xiang Kun, Alice, and Xia Libing’s calculations. Even when there are occasional reactions that exceed expectations, they have prepared contingency plans.

From the final results, the information Mr. Liang obtained, the time he arrived at the predestined location, and his reactions were all incredibly accurate.

Inviting Mr. Liang here was not just because the place was uninhabited and they felt comfortable making some noise. The fact of the matter was that Xiang Kun had laid out a “valuable area” here, investing a great deal of effort, time, and resources, most of which were devoted to setting up this place.

The brief clash with Mr. Liang was a whim of Xiang Kun and a small attempt outside the plan.

His goal—to a certain extent—was similar to Mr. Liang’s. Although through the secret documents obtained by Alice, and the real-time control over “Tyre”, and various research base technical documents, he knew what “Biological Components” Mr. Liang had and their rough functions, the documents were somewhat general and vague, so he wanted to have a match with Mr. Liang to understand the actual operation of some “Biological Components”.

At the same time, he could take the opportunity to test the “Ultra Rapid Wound Healing” ability he had gained in this area to see to what extent it could be applied.

Furthermore, without utilizing the “Electric Mastery Flight” and the “Super Quality Level Item System”, he wanted to see how much raw physical strength and mobility he could exert. Under normal circumstances, he lacked a suitable “training partner” like this.

He was well aware that Mr. Liang was also holding back and had not used those lethal abilities, such as the laser net that killed John’s drone in seconds, and other abilities he knew about. Mr. Liang hadn’t brought any guns, cannons, or similar weapons, but he had equipment and abilities that could cause similar damage and destruction.

As for later using “Super-connected Objects” to cut off some of Mr. Liang’s “Biological Components”, it was because Xiang Kun realized that going on with the fight was pointless. He had no tools or weapons and not using the “Super sensory Item System” and “Electric Mastery”, he couldn’t do anything with his physical strength alone.

The influence of the Eight-armed, Eight-eyed Wooden Sculpture Emotional Projection on Mr. Liang wasn’t an extension of the fight, nor was it to deter or suppress Mr. Liang. Instead, it was because during Xiang Kun and Old Xia’s study of Mr. Liang’s dream memory fragments and secret documents, they noticed that Mr. Liang’s psychology seemed to be stuck in some emotional rut. He hadn’t come out completely, so his outward behavior seemed a bit obtuse, a bit paranoid, and even insane.

According to Xiang Kun’s past experience, the fear projection of the Eight-armed, Eight-eyed Wooden Sculpture actually has a psychological counseling effect on most people.

Adjusting Mr. Liang’s emotions first and then discussing the matters that follow would be beneficial for both Mr. Liang and Xiang Kun.

It’s like having a bowl of medicinal soup as a greeting when meeting. If you’re sick, it’ll cure you; if you’re not, it’ll strengthen you. If you’re already strong, then it’ll quench your thirst.

Morever, using the emotional projection of the Eight-armed, Eight-eyed Wooden Sculpture could also test if they could pull Mr. Liang into the corresponding “Emotion Infused Network” to establish basic contact, making it easier to execute the next plan.

“Xiang Kun, I believe I have a general idea of your situation now.” Mr. Liang ignored Xiang Kun’s playful joke, and directly said, “I have a question that I’d like to ask you: what exactly is your purpose in all that you do?”

He didn’t specify what he had learned, nor did he describe what Xiang Kun’s “all that you do” referred to. By adopting this tone, he attempted to make Xiang Kun believe that he had mastered the whole situation.

Xiang Kun did not hesitate and responded directly: “I just want to live like a human being and protect the people around me.”

This answer took Mr. Liang by surprise. He initially thought that Xiang Kun’s meticulous and dedicated experiments and records, rare and restrained ability guidance and training, along with the significant expenditure in establishing research bases in remote mountain villages, indicated interest in the origin of the “Blood-eating Creatures” and the cause of these changes. He intended to guide Xiang Kun in this direction.

However, he did not expect Xiang Kun’s reply to be this. It sounded a bit naive, a bit odd.

But Mr. Liang did not refute him, and continued to ask: “You said you have studied ‘Divine Technology’, so what is your understanding of the work we are doing? And how much do you know about ‘Blood-eating Creatures’… I mean, beings like you and me?”

Xiang Kun calmly replied: “I guess I know quite a lot.”

Mr. Liang laughed and shook his head, and his laughter, mixed with the sounds of metallic particles rubbing against each other, was quite disconcerting. ȑÂΝǑ฿Ěṩ

“If you really knew a lot, you wouldn’t be building those laboratories and creating those research bases and entrusting your girlfriend to run and participate in the research. If you genuinely want to protect those around you, don’t involve them in these affairs, and don’t let any ordinary people become aware of these matters; it will be a catastrophe for them.”

“I can ensure their safety.” Xiang Kun affirmed confidently.

Mr. Liang sneered: “Guarantee their safety? Do you think I’m saying others will harm them? Haven’t you wondered why there is no information about ‘Blood-eating Creatures’ in the regular information channels, why the majority of common people, media, organizations, and official institutions in this world seem ignorant of the existence of ‘Blood-eating Creatures’? Why hasn’t any ‘Blood-eating Creature’ suddenly appeared to demonstrate their abilities to everyone?”

“I’ve had those doubts.” Xiang Kun confessed frankly.

“Because there is a being that holds the ‘life gate’ of all ‘Blood-eating Creatures’ and even the vast majority of ordinary creatures…” Mr. Liang described the existence of the “Ultimate Predator” to Xiang Kun in simple terms.

He knew that Xiang Kun was a unique, innovative, and practical human “blood-eating creature”. Xiang Kun might have even established his understanding of these creatures and his own mutation. To completely persuade Xiang Kun into accepting and immersing himself fully in his enterprise, he must let Xiang Kun know that there is an existence out there that he cannot fight, resist, or understand. An existence that can at any moment, rob him and those he wants to protect of their lives.

That entity is the “ultimate devil” waiting to harvest everything.

He wanted Xiang Kun to join him in perfecting ways to fight this “ultimate devil”. If he inevitably meets his end in the process, he hopes that Xiang Kun can continue and finish the journey.

Academician Shen discovered that the “ultimate predator” uses carbon compounds for composite influence, thereby controlling the “lifeline” of various carbon-based organisms. He’s found a way to deviate from carbon-based life foundations and develop a new life structure. He believes that even if he doesn’t complete this journey, he can demonstrate a possible path to successors. Whether to continue along his path or forge a new one, his work could provide inspiration.

Xiang Kun listened patiently. It’s only when Mr. Liang finished speaking, he then said, “The ‘ultimate predator’ you mentioned, I think I might have a way to fight it.”

“You?” Mr. Liang smiled and shook his head, “I know your illusion hypnosis ability is formidable, even impacting thousands of people at once. But that’s only effective against humans or ‘blood-eating creatures’ that have transformed from humans. The ‘ultimate predator’, even if it has consciousness, its form of existence is fundamentally different from humans. It doesn’t have any sensory pathways that can be influenced. You have no way of affecting it. We know too little about it…Yet it can silently influence us, directly robbing us of our lives.”

After a slight pause, Mr. Liang’s tone turned somber and serious, generating a strange sense of mystery from his peculiar voice, “It can even influence nature itself, controlling the weather and lightning. If you have experienced its power, you will understand that in a certain sense…it is the ‘god’ in human understanding…It’s impossible for any ordinary creature or individual to fight against.”

“Mr. Liang.” Xiang Kun began, gradually stretching his arms, “You mentioned lightning…like this?”

Caught off guard by his words, Mr. Liang noticed a faint halo enveloping Xiang Kun’s body.

An unusual wind blew through the forest, and his unique skin instinctively tensed up in a defensive reaction.

To his surprise, he suddenly couldn’t see the moon and stars in the night sky above, replaced by rolling, dense clouds, appearing like the waves at the center of a storm.

Several flashes of lightning darted through the dense clouds, followed by thunder.

Mr. Liang noticed the connection between him and the drones in the distance were experiencing interference again. Was this scene real, not an illusion?

His gaze returned to Xiang Kun and noticed blue electrical arcs formed on his bald head, running along the faint halo around him down to the ground.

The electrical arcs quickly increased, gathering to form white, bright, snapping lightning cables extending and swinging behind Xiang Kun’s head, appearing like hair, or twitching electrical snakes.

With a sudden massive bang, a bolt of lightning struck the ground not far from Mr. Liang. Frightened, he instinctively dodged the bolt. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Xiang Kun, with lightning hair, get lifted into the air by the bolt.

Lightning bolts struck all around one after another. Blue electrical arcs ran rampant, and the smell of scorch filled the air. The electricity made him feel pins and needles on his scalp, even though its structure was completely different from an average person—this was the first time he had this feeling since he transformed into a blood-eating creature.

Inside this terrifying lightning storm, Mr. Liang initially wanted to flee, driven by instincts. But he quickly realized that a faint halo, identical to what is covering Xiang Kun, had surrounded him. Every lightning bolt seemed to deliberately avoid striking him, even though he was seemingly at the center of the storm.

Looking up at Xiang Kun who was hovering about ten meters in the air, his arms spread and his head adorned with lightning, Mr. Liang was left wide-mouthed in shock. Following his initial terror and awe, he suddenly realized that the strange sensor lightning and the terrifying lightning storm at Wushu Mountain when he was hunting the “giant raptor” weren’t warning signs from the “ultimate predator”—those were Xiang Kun’s doing.

Xiang Kun was at Wushu Mountain too!

He thought about the storm at Zi Huan Mountain, news of two escaped convicts electrocuted at Chongyun Mountain, and some traces he found in the Qinling Uninhabited Area.

He never linked these storms with blood-eating creatures other than the “ultimate predator” before, as he instinctually believed it to be impossible.

Could Xiang Kun really control the weather?

So, the one acting like a god, manipulating the weather and lightning, was… Xiang Kun?

Mr. Liang suddenly noticed dramatic changes in the surrounding forest. The trees struck by lightning were swaying their trunks and growing visibly. Not only the trees hit by lightning, the whole forest seemed to come to life, with branches and vines swinging non-stop, apparently growing and extending out of thin air, as if to pay tribute to Xiang Kun in the sky, welcoming the baptism of the storm.

The various plants grew increasingly strange and grotesque. Then he felt as if even the ground was beginning to pulse, as though it was breathing, cheering, dancing in sync with the forest.

The sky above, the forest, the ground underneath, the lightning, and the gale seemed as if they all sprang to life, obeying a single will.

As Mr. Liang was standing in the midst of it all, arguably the center of it, he felt a peculiar sensation. Reason continuously washed over him, his senses told him that everything around him was real. In contrast, logic, reason, and experience made him question whether he was merely under another illusion provoked by Xiang Kun.

If all of these were real, then what…what exactly is Xiang Kun?

A “blood-eating creature” transformed from human, with a transformation period of only a little over a year, can he really manipulate the profound forces of nature?

Is he…still human?

At that moment, a sentence that Xiang Kun previously said resonated spontaneously in Mr. Liang’s mind:

“I just want to live like a person… “

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